Category Archives: Photos

July 3 Sail POINTS

News, Photos, Sail, , , ,

Happy Fourth of July fellow Argonauts.

On this holiday I feel it is an ideal time to express my appreciation to ALL members that make our hobby and recreation possible at “Our Pond”. This includes every member.. You all count.  A huge THANK YOU for you participation!

For those who are still in dry dock, now is the time to dust off the rigs and start becoming active again. Our Santa Barbara fleet is looking for more boats and invite all inactive sailors back. ODOM’s and Soling 50’s are also always looking for more competitive fleets. It’s time to join in on the fun!

It is said that “It Takes a Village”.  Now is a good time to get involved. Just for the love of our hobby and camaraderie. It’s not just about winning a race. It’s about success as a group. It’s time to pull together and make Race-Week a huge success!  For those whose have not registered for their perspective fleet, time is running short.

VOLUNTEERS ARE APPRECIATED

REGISTER & ONLINE PAYMENT AT AMYA website:  https://www.theamya.org/regatta/thisYear/race_st.php#CA

July 3-Races Highlights

Soling 50 eight boat fleet

Thank You Ken Campbell for another informative Racing Rules Clinic. These seminars can provide useful information and help us all become better sailors. One of the topics of discussions was calling for room with port/starboard boat situations and obstructions. I think he has a crystal ball..

Fred Rocha once again set a fun course with predominant southwest to west winds averaging 8-9mph. Fred also served as RD extraordinaire!! Our hats are off for VC of Sail!

Soling 50’s sailed a 6 race series with just a small handful of on the water fouls. Two discrepancies were heard by protest committee Rogers 3 & Rogers 2+1. I think it is always easier and kinder to the scoresheet to clear infractions on the water.

SOLING 50

2 S/B’s and ODOM’s with a delayed start, shared the course for a six race series. Nice Sailing.

ODOM RESULTS

Thank You Kim Robbins and Jeff Fletcher for assisting Fred Rocha with equipment cleanup and storage.. The lock was checked twice!

JULY SCHEDULE (cont)

July 10th
10:00 SDA Race Week Meeting
11:00 Racing Rules of Sailing Seminar
11:45 Skippers Meeting
12:00 – 16:00 Sail Points IOM – DF95


July 17th
SCALE DIVISION FULL DAY – Scale Age of Steam


July 24th
11:30 Skippers Meeting
12:00 SOLING 50 SUMMER REGATTA

Pete Law: A Master Model Boat Craftsman

News, Photos, Sail, Scale
Kerry Law donating dad’s boats

I want to offer a shout out to Kerry Law, who reached out to our fearless leader with a generous offer to donate some beautiful RC boats made by her extremely talented dad. All of the boats appear to be meticulously crafted and engineered, needing only some minor maintenance and radio gear to get them ready for the pond. This was a fabulous gift, and it will boost our recruitment efforts when they are brought to the pond and run. Shown are the two scale models I received today. To my right is a Coast Guard utility boat, and to my left is a German Wasserschutzpolizei boat. These boats patrol the waterways, lakes and harbors of Germany around the clock. –Rob Wood

Rob Wood: To my right is a Coast Guard utility boat, and to my left is a German Wasserschutzpolizei boat.

Kerry, a huge thanks to your family. Your dad was clearly a master craftsman. I spent much of the weekend with a smile on my face as I updated two with modern running gear, cleaned, greased, and tested them.

Berkeley Chris Craft Cobra (Built by Pete Law 1994) 1:8 Scale (1 1/2″ = 1′) Length: 31″ Beam: 10 3/8″

Sterling Chris Craft 63′ Motor Yacht (Built by Pete Law 1984) Sterling kit B-11M 1:19 Scale Length: 40″ Beam: 10 1/4″

A huge thanks from Mark Weber! (Check out Mark’s video if their first test run.)

Originally, club member Ken Wilson planned on picking up the Sterling 63′ Motor Yacht. However, that quickly turned into a trade for Mark Weber’s dusty Emma C Berry RC sailboat (Built by Ed Sayres). In other words, the donated boats indirectly got other models into the right hands to make sure they see the sun and Pond again.

Ken Wilson with Emma C Berry RC sailboat (Built by Ed Sayres)

Other overjoyed recipients!

  • Mark Shaw w the Crockett an Asheville class gun boat.
  • Sean O’Conner
  • Mike Butts

Thanks Kerry! We have the upmost respect to your dad Pete Law, a master craftsman.

San Diego Argonauts, WWCC & More at Maker Faire San Diego

Events, Photos, Scale, Videos

Event Photos & Videos:

 

Get ready for the combined booth of the San Diego Argonauts, Western Warship Combat Club, San Diego Ship Modeler’s Guild, and NAMBA!

Members, get your RC models ready! Chat with Rob & Mark to learn more.

Makers, come check out these awesome RC boats, combat ships, and awesome hands-on activities!

For More Info on Maker Faire San Diego:
http://sandiego.makerfaire.com/

Clubs Represented at Our Booth:

Instructions for Volunteers:

We’ve been given a fantastic indoor space, right in front of the entrance to the Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. We will have access to the space for setting up, starting on Friday at 4:00 PM, and at 8:00 AM on Saturday, 9:00 AM on Sunday. We have parking, secure storage, power and restrooms, with a cafe just up the stairs above us. This will be a high-traffic area during the event, but with a perfectly-controllable, roped-in area along the busy thoroughfare. WE NEED BOATS AND SHIPS TO DISPLAY! You need not commit to the full weekend, or even a full day, but we need as many people and boats/submarines and ships as possible.

See photos below for an unloading map and a look at the space.

2016 San Diego Argonauts Scale Boat Regatta

Photos, Scale

San Diego Argonauts’ Scale Boat Regatta

by Jeff Sparksworthy

IMG_1315On June 25th, 2016 a motley crew of Captains, First Mates, and Able Bodied Seapersons dared the submerged shoals, sandbars, shore batteries, volcanoes, and other obstacles to compete in the San Diego Argonauts’ Scale Boat Regatta at and in San Diego’s Vacation Island model boat pond.  Water locked landlubbers came all the way from Huntington Beach, Riverside, and San Bernardino for the chance to test their piloting skills in the salty brine of our pond. They were joined by a throng of spectators and other scale builders who were either sodium-averse or hydrophobic, but who nonetheless captured the imaginations on many a would be tar or future modeler.  In addition, Rob Wood of the near maniacal sect of battle pond enthusiasts was there to lend a hand and to try to induce other boaters to join his cult of like-minded sailors who actually plan on sinking their boats.

IMG_1316The awards, although rigged like a schooner, went to the following old salts:
In the Best of Class, the winners in each class are:

  • Military – 1st place Mike Rivera, 2nd place Martin Bunch, 3rd place Jimmy Hawkins.
  • In Workboats – 1st place Mike Rivera, 2nd place Tony G., 3rd place Frank Azucena.
  • In Pleasure Crafts – 1st place Dave Manley; 2nd place Armando, 3rd place Dave Ender

In Navigation the winners were:

  • 24″ or less – 1st place Ron Tindall.
  • 36″ or less – 1st place Ron Tindall and 2nd place Art Grunow.
  • In 36″or more – 1st place Mark Weber; 2nd place Armando, and 3rd place Armando (who this writer assumed everyone knew this fine gentleman’s last name).

IMG_1299The BEST of SHOW went to Mr. Tony G. (who, wishing to dodge the paparazzi and gold diggers, refused to provide last name).

The whole affair was deemed a smashing success – in no small part to the efforts of Rosemary Kapler who catered the event – knowing full well how cranky hungry sailors can be.  The only complaint was that the grog was watered down.

Additional logistics were provided by the future president of the Argonauts, young Master Dave Kaplar, who helped the old salts rinse off (and he cleaned their boats too!).  Jeff Sparksworthy and Vice Commodore David Alvarez ran the registration table and carefully cooked the scorekeeping books, as well as selling tickets, and making award plaques.

IMG_1263Special thanks are due to Rob Wood, Martin Bunch, David Manley, and Don Johnson for heading the judging. Thousands were raised in bribes alone!  Another big, calloused hand goes to galley slave Ron Tindall for rowing while Mark Weber set up islands and to Don Johnson for bringing them in.

We all deeply appreciate the continued support of John at Discount Hobby Warehouse and we all need to thank Jimmie Hawkins for his mystery raffle prize. Other donors include Mike Rivera’s for tools, Martin Bunch for kits, and Don Johnson for motors. A shout of “thanks” goes to all of the other named and anonymous prize donors.

IMG_20160625_135941553[1]The event seems to grow like a barnacle and yet to somehow get better every year, due in great part to the “all hands on deck” attitude of the scale division and to the support of our fellow obsessives in the sail division.  We even had some people crossing the once dangerous taboo between sail and motor driven groups. Perhaps we should have a shellback ceremony next year to welcome them to this side of the equator. Some intrepid sailors even made a mad dash to run their boats through the obstacle course under sail, although their comments can’t be printed in a family publication.

The Argonauts are looking forward to making next year’s regatta bigger and better with IMG_1289more entries, a submarine class, and a special category of heaviest AND ugliest boat to placate a certain obnoxious amateur builder.

Thanks to all who worked at and attended our event and my apologies to any and all who expected the full truth and nothing but the truth in this press release.

Want to see more stuff?

 

 

2016 Scale Boat Summer Regatta

Photos, Scale

The Scale Boat Division of the San Diego Argonauts is hosting a regatta!

  • Date:   Saturday, June 25, 2016
  • Time:  10:00-2:30pm
  • Location:  San Diego Model Yacht Pond — Vacation Isle in Mission Bay
    (Approximate address is 100 Vacation Rd, San Diego, CA 92109)

What to Expect:

  1. Navigation Course & Static Judging:
    • $5 per boat entry
    • Includes on skipper ticket
  2. Lunch: $10 for food:
    • Rotisserie Chicken, Homemade Rice, Baked  Beans, Watermelon, Homemade Brownies  Cookies, Chips & Drink
    • Extra drinks: $1 each
  3. Trading Tables: Bring your extra boats & parts
  4. Raffle!
    • Must be present to win at 2:00pm
    • $1 for a raffle ticket
    • $5 for 6 raffle tickets
  5. Remote controlled model boats!  Cool, cool scale boats!  Come check ’em out even if you don’t have one!

Details:  In 2015 we revived scale boat regattas in San Diego!  We had a great family-friendly event, and we’re planning another one for 2016.  Come on down to the San Diego Model Yacht Pond on Vacation Isle Park.

Parking:  Parking is free and first come first serve.  Park on north side of the pond.  Additional parking southeast of the pond.

Bring:  Bring your own table, chair & sun screen.  Bring a scale boat to run through our navigation course.  Bring money for lunch & raffle and spare stuff for trading.

2015 Scale Boat Regatta Judges & Navigation Course

Rinse Table:  Yup, the pond is saltwater.  It’s connected to the San Diego bay and is fed through the tide.  This keeps our pond like very few other.  Model boaters have been using this pond for 80+ years.  We just rinse our boats after use.  We’ll have a rinse table setup to make rinsing easier than ever.

RSVP is not necessary.  However, feel free to e-mail David Alvarez dalvarez2@san.rr.com with questions or to let us know you’ll be joining.  Or, let us know by checking on on:

Last year’s event was a total success!  Check out photos from our 2015 summer regatta here.

FLYERS:

2016 Scale Boat Fun Run

Photos, Videos

We had an awesome Scale Boat Fun Run this past Saturday. It featured a navigation course with islands, barge pulling, a great lunch and a solid raffle. Despite the overcast day, we had a great turnout from the San Diego, Los Angeles, & Riverside areas.

More photos & videos:

Our next Scale Boat Division event:

Setting up the course:

The 2016 San Diego Argonauts Scale Boat Fun Run:

 

Warship Combat in Balboa Park

Photos, Scale

Big gun RC combat warships in the middle of Balboa Park?

The Battle Pond at San Diego Maker Faire was a huge hit. What a well oil machine/team the Western Warship Combat Club (WWCC) is!  The WWCC set up its Battle Pond in the middle of San Diego Maker Faire. Club members slugged it out shooting & sinking each other with up to 1/4″ steel balls.

Game play involved two teams targeting the other team’s convoy. Cargo ships were unarmed and captained by kids from the audience!

1:144 Scale Combat Ships present:

  • USS Iowa
  • HMS Hood
  • HMS Rodney,
  • HMS Kent class (7 ea.)
  • Battleship Roma
  • DKM Bismarck
  • DKM Graf Spee
  • DKM Deutschland
  • DKM Z-23
  • C-3 cargo ships (7 each)

Not only did a dozen guys & gals travel down from San Francisco, but they spent countless hours planning, transporting, and constructing the 72’x40′ Battle Pond.  Thursday, they and local volunteers built the pond itself. Friday was building polycarbonate shielding walls.

Many thanks to San Diego Argonauts volunteers Jeff Sparksworthy, David Alvarez, Greg Dawe, David Manley, Ken Wilson, Mark Weitzman, Socorro Weitzman, Jarod Black, and Zack Trahan!

After all that hard work, we had a private model boat pond in the middle of Balboa Park!

#sdmakerfaire

Photos from Thursday:

Photos from Friday:

Photos from Saturday:

Photos from Sunday:

Interested in RC combat?
Contact Rob Wood, Director and Producer of the Battle Pond
http://westernwarshipcombat.com
rwood@hypergold.com
650-678-2478
This is Battle Pond VIII. The culmination of 8 years of work.
Battle Pond is a Western Warship Combat Club, Inc. production. All rights reserved.

Revival of Scale Boat Regattas

Photos, Scale

Wow, based on the awesome crowd and how nicely today went, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 15+ years since our last Scale Boat regatta at the pond. Awesome boats, great guys & gals, and a solid navigation course made for an excellent event.

Many thanks to all our volunteers who made the possible, to all the Sail Division guys who came to check out the scene, and to Neil Boyle of the Power Division of the San Diego Argonauts who was out volunteering at 6:30am!!

Many thanks: David Alvarez, Jeff Sparksworthy, and I made a solid trio planning this event. Rosemary did a great job with food. Thanks to little Davie for the boat rinse table. Thanks to David Manley, Don & Ryan Johnson, and Marty Bunch for judging. Charles, Ryan and Neil get awesome points for all the hard work setting up the course. Thanks to Discount Hobby, Mike Rivera, and Lew Johnson. Thanks to everyone else for helping staff tables and anyone else I’m forgetting.

More photos are here:

Awesome, awesome day!  Great scale boating.  Enjoy the photos.